How to Make Turmeric Sun Prints
Have fun making these beautiful prints that are part art project and part STEM craft. It's a fun and easy way to explore pH changes while ending up with a pretty picture!
Yield: 2 turmeric sun prints
Cost: $2
Equipment
- Stir stick (or popsicle stick, or spoon)
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Prepare the turmeric "paint"
- Pour 25 ml (about 1-1/2 Tablespoons) of isopropyl alcohol into a bowl.
- Before working with turmeric we highly recommend wearing gloves and an apron. Turmeric likes to dye and stain everything it touches, so be cautious!
- Add 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder into the rubbing alcohol.
- Stir the turmeric into the alcohol using a popsicle stick or disposable spoon.
- Place a coffee filter over another bowl.
- Pour the turmeric mixture into the coffee filter.
- Let the liquid drain through the coffee filter and squeeze out the excess moisture.The liquid in the bowl is what we'll be using for this craft.
Step 3: Coat the paper
- Protect your working surface with a piece of parchment paper. (Again, turmeric likes to stain!)
- Cut watercolour paper to the size you'd like your prints to be and set them on the covered tray.
- Use a foam sponge brush to cover the paper in the turmeric "paint". Cover the paper completely and evenly.
- Repeat with a second piece of paper (or however many prints you'd like to make) and allow the paper to dry completely. This should take about 30 to 45 minutes.Place the tray in a dark room or cupboard while the paper dries, so it doesn't get exposed to too much light.
Step 4: Make and expose your design
- Arrange pressed flowers or whatever else you'd like on the paper.
- Then cover the paper with pieces of glass. The glass should completely cover the paper.This will keep the flowers in place and press them down so no light gets under them.
- Then set the tray in a sunny window (with direct sunlight) for at least 4 hours.
Step 5: Set the print
- Once your papers have sat long enough, add 1 teaspoon of baking soda into 1/4 cup warm water. Stir to dissolve it.
- Remove the glass and flowers from your papers.
- Then use a sponge brush to apply the baking soda water onto the papers. Again, cover the entire paper and try to do this evenly.Allow to dry.
- Your turmeric sun prints are complete!
Video
Notes
Looking for more STEM crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
Magic Milk Art Project
Grow a Rainbow Experiment
How to Make Borax Crystals